By Carl Markham, PA Sport

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England's women have hit form at exactly the right time and go into today's Commonwealth Games final against India as favourites - which is not their preferred position.

However, their Australian coach Tricia Heberle has taught them to tackle every situation in the same way and they will go out at Belle Vue in front of a live television audience expecting to play in the same manner which disposed of defending champions Australia.

Having begun the competition with a good draw against New Zealand, they ended the group stage with a disappointing 1-1 against India and as a result got the more difficult route to the final.

But the chance to better the silver medal they won in Malaysia four years ago is something they will not want to let slip now.

"We go into the game against India knowing we have had some good wins but some tight contests at times and certainly we will not go in there with an over-confidence," said Heberle.

"But we are playing good hockey at the end of a tournament and I think that augurs well for our chances in the gold medal match."

The two sides met in a warm-up event at the Games venue in June and England snatched a last-gasp 3-2 victory thanks to Canterbury defender Mel Clewlow's penalty corner. England would settle for that again.

England are definitely without Olton midfielder Lucilla Wright (infected shoulder), who has spent three nights in hospital, while Leicester's Helen Richardson (hip) is expected to be fit.

The bronze medal play-off sees Australia, now only world and Olympic champions, play New Zealand.

England's men finished the tournament in fifth place after beating Canada 6-3 but it was a game no-one wanted to play after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to South Africa on Wednesday.

Guildford striker Danny Hall grabbed four goals with Billy Waugh and Mark Pearn also scoring and both sides also missed penalty strokes.

"As far as the players are concerned we are very disappointed. This was not the game we wanted to play in," said captain Craig Parnham.

"It was important to win it and we did win and we can draw some good things out of the tournament and learn from others."

Wales avoided the wooden spoon with a 7-0 victory over whipping boys Barbados with Simon Organ hitting a hat-trick and further goals from James Westerman (two), Mark Hoskin and Paul Edwards.

Tomorrow there will be an all-southern hemisphere final with Australia - 3-1 victors over South Africa - playing New Zealand, 7-1 destroyers of second favourites Pakistan.